Charles Ethan Kenning (born August 19, 1943 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American singer, songwriter and musician, who performed as George Edwards when he led 1960s acid-rock band, H. P. Lovecraft.[1] He was adopted as a child, and brought up under the name George Edwards; he reverted to his birth name of Ethan Kenning in his mid-30s.[2]
In the mid-1960s he performed folk and blues music in clubs in Chicago, and as a session singer with Dunwich Records. He released an unsuccessful version of The Beatles' "Norwegian Wood" on Dunwich in 1966, before forming a new band, H. P. Lovecraft.[3][4] The band featured striking vocal harmonies between Edwards and the classically-trained Dave Michaels, and atmospheric instrumentation and effects on songs, some of which were co-written by Edwards, including some inspired by the writings of the author of the same name. The band released two albums, H. P. Lovecraft in 1967 and H. P. Lovecraft II in 1968, before splitting up in early 1969. Edwards then worked for a while as a music show promoter, before he and original band drummer Michael Tegza formed a new band, Lovecraft. However, Edwards left after their first album.[2]
Edwards - later known as Ethan Kenning - then worked in music production in California, and in writing and producing TV and radio commercials. He won two Clio Awards for Levi's commercials with Doc Watson and Leon Redbone, and also produced commercials for Taco Bell, Bank of America, and others. He has also worked occasionally with Dave Michaels. More recently he has worked as manager and producer of improvisational singer Rhiannon.[5]